Virtual reality universe representation changes viewing based upon client side parameters

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods for enabling a visitor to access VR representations authored by different authors of images at different quality levels at various locations in a virtual universe via a computer network are provided. A plurality of data sets may be stored in memory. Each VR data set may define a VR representation of a location and may be independently authored by a respective author different from the other authors. In addition, each VR dataset may have a speed and quality metric to assist the visitors in an optimized experience. One or more VR data servers may access and transmit the VR data sets of various quality and speeds, each of which may be associated with a VR data server having access to the VR data set. A domain server may be adapted to access and transmit domain data comprising the location within the universe of each VR representation and the network address of the VR data server associated with the VR representation. Further, a client host may be adapted to communicate with the domain server to receive domain data representing the network address of the VR data server associated with a bets matched quality and speed VR representation and to communicate with that VR data server to access the VR data set defining the VR representation without leaving the virtual universe.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation and claims the prioritybenefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/460,277 filed Aug. 14,2014, issuing as U.S. Pat. No. 9,838,506, which is a continuation andclaims the priority benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/147,433 filed Jan. 3, 2014, which claims priority to and the benefitof U.S. provisional patent application 61/786,576 filed Mar. 15, 2013,”and the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to computer-generated virtualreality representations of locations. Specifically, the presentinvention relates to changing the representation the visitor sees basedupon the visitors computer environment.

2. Description of the Related Art

Virtual reality (VR) models and simulates views from a location invirtual space. The visitor perceives the view from virtual space on acomputer monitor or specialized display, and experiences “movement” bychanging position or orientation within the virtual space. The visitormay even be “teleported” to different points in the virtual space.

Although recognized as having substantial potential, virtual reality hasremained limited mainly to certain types of computer system andhardware, such as high speed fast desktops with high speed networkconnections. Visitors like to be able to keep up seamlessly with virtualreality programs from on device, such as a desktop or laptop to a tabletor even smartphone. As explained below, virtual reality representationmodels use a “single virtual space representation,” and a “singleauthoring virtual reality representation” Because of this, the designer,by representing only a “single representation” limits the market sizeand visitor acceptance of VR programs. These factors have hinderedbroader adoption of virtual reality.

A virtual reality representation models a single volume, area, or pointwithin virtual space. The representation may model physical space, suchas a location or region on the Earth, or may model imaginary space in avideo game. The visitor can move around in the virtual space, but islimited to remaining in that virtual space.

Two authors may create virtual reality representations of the samelocation, or of related locations. These representations may exist ondifferent websites, servers, or computers. The prior art (U.S. Pat. No.7,298,378, Virtual Reality Universe Realized as a Distributed LocationNetwork, issued Nov. 20, 2007 by Hagenbach et. al.) shows acomprehensive way of organizing or searching these representations andoffering them to the visitor so that they may be logically viewedtogether.

In particular, U.S. Pat. No. 7,298,378 prior art shows that therepresentations are connected together in a way that enables the visitorto experience both representations. For example, if the locationsmodeled the same physical location, the visitor could choose whichrepresentation to experience. If the locations modeled adjacent physicallocations, the visitor could experience moving from one virtual locationto another. This creates a “virtual universe” made of separate virtualreality representations that can be toured by visitors.

In U.S. Pat. No. 7,298,378, the representations generated by differentauthors are logically connected together in a virtual universe, allowingfor a simplification of authoring of virtual reality representations.The programming and graphic skills required by conventional VR softwaremakes creation of virtual reality representations a relatively complexand expensive process. The easier and faster virtual realityrepresentations can be created, the easier and faster a rich and variedvirtual universe can be created and offered to visitors.

However, the prior art provides only a single VR representation of a VRspace by a single author. Multiple authors creating multiple VRrepresentations of a single VR space provide the same view-types basedupon generally similar high density graphical representations that leadto high quality imaging. This means that visitor computer processorspeeds, processor loads, connection speeds and browser version can playa significant role on the quality of the experience of the VR Universe.Also, this results in a lack of seamless use between differing devicessuch as smartphones, tables, laptops and desktops, since each can havevarious processor speeds, processor loads, connection speeds and browserversions.

Thus there is a need for logically connecting virtual realityrepresentations together to form a virtual universe that allows for animproved visitor experience for a single visitor even if the visitor haseither a computer that has processor speeds, processor loads, connectionspeeds and browser versions that was not optimized for the authorsgraphical representation or whereby the visitor has multiple computersthat they want to use seamlessly on the VR universe where each devicehas differing processor speeds, processor loads, connection speeds andbrowser versions. In addition to conventional virtual reality software,a simplified method of creating virtual reality representations forcomputers that have various processor speeds, processor loads,connection speeds and browser version is needed to encourage creation ofthe virtual universe.

SUMMARY OF THE CLAIMED INVENTION

The claimed invention is a network capable of connecting virtual realityrepresentations together to form a virtual universe. The virtual realityrepresentations can be in a simplified virtual reality format thatrequires no special computer programming or graphics skills to create.Further the virtual reality representations are authored in such a wayas to improve the visitor experience for those who may wish to view thevirtual reality representations on computer devices that have variousprocessor speeds, processor loads, connection speeds and browserversions.

A network in accordance with the present invention includes a number ofvirtual reality representations, each virtual reality representationrepresenting a location in a virtual universe and defined by VR datastored on the network at a network address.

A database stores the network address and the location in the universeof each virtual reality representation. A database server providesaccess to the database. The database server generates a list oflocations in response to a location query from a visitor, and providesthe network address of the virtual reality representation of a selectedlocation. The database also has various virtual reality representations(VR representations) of a single VR location, optionally at differentlevels of quality. These VR representations of a single VR location areauthored in such a way that a particular VR representation of a singleVR location can be displayed on a visitor's computer based on thecapabilities of the visitor's computer, such as for example thecomputer's processor speed, processor load, connection speed, andbrowser version.

The visitor connects to the network using a client host adapted tocommunicate with the domain server. The client host adapter queries thevisitor's computer device for the relevant device processor speeds,processor loads, connection speeds and browser version. The hostreceives data representing the network address of the VR data serverassociated with a selected VR representation. The host is also adaptedto communicate with the VR data server to access the VR data setdefining the VR representation, in which the VR representation is bestmatched to the visitors device processor speeds, processor loads,connection speeds and browser version.

In using the network, the visitor is preferably presented with a mapdisplaying locations in the virtual universe. Each location isassociated with a virtual reality representation accessible through thenetwork. The visitor selects a location on the map he or she desires tovisit. The domain server receives the selected location and retrievesfrom the database the network location of the data server providingaccess to the selected virtual reality representation, in which the VRrepresentation is best matched to the visitors device processor speeds,processor loads, connection speeds and browser version. The domainserver transmits the network address of the data server to the host, andthe host communicates with the data server to receive the VR datadefining the virtual reality representation, in which the VRrepresentation is best matched to the visitors device processor speeds,processor loads, connection speeds and browser version.

In one possible embodiment, the client host includes a monitor thatdisplays both the map and the virtual reality presentation generatedfrom the VR data. In other possible embodiments the virtual realitypresentation can utilize specialized hardware separate from the mapdisplay. In other possible embodiments, the map may be displayed to theuser on a first device at a first quality best matched to a visitorsfirst device's processor speed, processor load, connection speed andbrowser version; and the VR presentation could be displayed to the useron a second device at a second quality best matched to the visitorssecond device's processor speed, processor load, connection speed andbrowser version.

In preferred embodiments of the present invention, the network storesdata representing paths in the virtual universe as well as multipleinstantiations of a VR representation of a single location of differingquality (data size of images). A path is defined by at least twodifferent locations in the universe. When the domain server receives amessage from the host requesting virtual movement from a first locationto a second location, the domain server communicates the network addressof the data server associated with the second location to the host. Thehost then communicates with that data server and transitions from thefirst VR presentation to the VR presentation of the second location. Thevisitor perceives a substantially continuous movement along the pathfrom the first location to the second location without leaving thevirtual universe.

Paths can be defined in different ways in alternative embodiments of thenetwork. The domain server can store predefined path definitions bystoring a list of the locations defining the path. Paths can also haveindications of various levels of quality of experience based upon datarepresentations, so a visitor can select a higher or lower quality pathbased upon the visitors device processor speeds, processor loads,connection speeds and browser version, or based upon their desire totravel faster at lower speeds to get a general idea of a VR space(possibly a thumbnail version) before investigating that VR space at ahigher quality. This greatly enhances the visitor experience.

Alternatively, the domain server stores at least one data record foreach location in the universe, but may store multiple data records ofdiffering quality of the images of the same VR location. The data setrecords the adjacent locations in the universe to define a path fromeach location to adjacent locations. In other alternative embodimentsthe path is defined in response to system events and then made availableto the visitor.

The network preferably includes administrative software that enables newvirtual reality representations to be added to the network. The networkfurther includes software to determine the visitor's device processorspeed, processor load, connection speed and browser version, and tomatch these parameters to the optimum VR dataset quality. The virtualreality representations can be stored on existing data servers on thenetwork, or stored on data servers that are themselves added to thenetwork. The database is updated to reflect the new locations in thevirtual universe and the network addresses of the data servers accessingthe representations.

In one advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the virtualuniverse is divided into public and private regions. Any author can addto the network a virtual reality representation of a location in thepublic region of the universe. Only authorized authors can addrepresentations in private regions of the universe.

In another advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the networkis operated as a self-regulating virtual reality universe. The networkpreferably provides visitor access to a number of virtual realityrepresentations, each authored by a different author. The domain serverreceives ratings from visitors to the quality of the virtual realityrepresentations they visited, and assesses the quality of each virtualreality representation based on the ratings provided by the visitors.One of these ratings is image quality and access speed, whereby thesystem can provide feedback to the author of a VR representation toprompt the author to establish additional representations of the same VRlocation to meet the future need of new visitors to that location.

Action is then taken regarding a virtual reality based on the assessedquality of the virtual reality representation. The quality can be ratedas a running average of visitor ratings or ratings based on imagequality and access speed. If the rating falls below a predeterminedscore, visitor access to the representation can be removed or therepresentation can be removed from the network, or the author can addupdated VR representations at higher quality or lower quality to dealwith higher or lower speed access devices. Preferably the action istaken automatically and without human intervention so that the networkis self-regulating. Alternatively, a VR site can be labeled underconstruction until the author is able to provide a VRrepresentation withhigher or lower quality for higher or lower speed devices.

To simplify creation of virtual reality representations, the VR data canbe stored in a simplified file format that stores digital photographstaken from a specific geographic location. The photographs can be takenat various quality levels or a software tool can be used to enhance thequality or reduce the quality and data size to allow multiple copies ofthe same VR location. An author takes and stores a number of photographseach at various quality representations as well as various photographsat different view angles from a location with a digital camera. Thephotographs are preferably in JPG format but other “digital film”formats can be used. The digital photographs can be single images ofsections of a video data stream. The photographs can have variousquality and experience levels, such as time of day, exposure forbrightness and viewing angles and viewing size. Each photographpreferably is taken in a different viewing direction, preferably viewingnorth, south, east, and west. The images are uploaded to the networkalong with geographical data (for example, latitude and longitude) thatidentifies where the photographs were taken. The domain server storesthe images, the viewing direction associated with each image, andgeographical data in a single data file on a data server. The domainserver updates its database, associating the geographical location witha virtual location in the virtual universe. The virtual representationis now accessible to visitors, and the photographs are displayed whengenerating the virtual reality presentation of the virtual location.

A virtual reality network in accordance with the present inventionoffers many advantages. A number of different virtual realityrepresentations are made available to visitors through a single,centrally accessible domain server. Each VR representation includesimages stored at many quality levels to optimize the visitors experiencefor the device the visitor is using. The domain server enables visitorsto experience virtual reality representations created by differentauthors, and to tour a virtual universe created by logically organizingand connecting the separate representations.

Authors can easily add new virtual reality representations to thenetwork, enabling visitors to experience a virtual reality universe thatgrows richer and richer with time. With the simplified VR file format,persons may share with others their travels to places around the world,or may easily create their own virtual universe for business or privateuse.

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparentas the description proceeds, especially when taken in conjunction withthe accompanying eight drawing sheets illustrating an embodiment of theinvention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a virtual reality universe realized as adistributed location network in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a virtual reality representation recordused in the network shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a virtual reality record used in thenetwork shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram illustrating a visitor utilizing a clienthost communicating with the network shown in FIG. 1 to view a locationin the virtual universe;

FIG. 5 is a view of the client host display displaying a map of theuniverse and a virtual reality presentation of a location in the virtualuniverse;

FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram similar to FIG. 4 illustrating a visitormoving along a path in the virtual universe;

FIGS. 7a and 7b represent paths in the virtual universe extendingbetween adjacent locations in the universe;

FIGS. 8-10 illustrate other paths in the virtual universe; and

FIG. 11 represents photographs that define a simplified virtual realityrepresentation of a physical location modeled in the virtual universe.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present invention are a system and method forenabling a user and/or visitor utilizing a computer or other clientdevice to visit a selected location within a virtual reality universeusing virtual reality data authored by different authors where thedatasets include data speed and quality metric to assist the visitors inan optimized experience. The system and method provide a plurality ofdata servers and a domain server interconnected with the data servers.The data servers provide access to sets of VR data of virtualrepresentations of locations within the universe, each set of VR data isauthored by a respective different author independently of the otherauthors. The VR data includes data speed and quality metric to assistthe visitors in an optimized experience. The domain server providesaccess to domain data for selecting the location to visit and thenetwork address of the data server providing access to the VR data forthe selected location. The data is received from the visitorrepresenting a selected location in the universe. The domain data isaccessed in response data received from the visitor and obtainstherefrom the network address of the data server that provides access tothe VR data for the selected location. The VR data for the selectedlocation is transferred from the data server to the visitor's computeror other client device for generation of a VR presentation of theselected location without leaving the virtual universe.

Users or visitors may use any number of different electronic computingclient devices, which can include, but is not limited to, generalpurpose computers, mobile phones, smartphones, personal digitalassistants (PDAs), portable computing devices (e.g., laptop, netbook,tablets), desktop computing devices, handheld computing device, or anyother type of computing device capable of communicating over acommunication network. Such devices are preferably configured to accessdata from other storage media, such as, but not limited to memory cardsor disk drives as may be appropriate in the case of downloaded services.Such devices preferably include standard hardware computing componentssuch as, but not limited to network and media interfaces, non-transitorycomputer-readable storage (memory), and processors for executinginstructions that may be stored in memory.

FIG. 1 illustrates a distributed location network 10 in accordance withthe present invention.

The network 10 enables a visitor to visit and explore a virtualuniverse. FIG. 1 illustrates a map 12 of the virtual universe displayedon a visitor's computer monitor by a software program or virtual realitybrowser (VR browser) 14 running on a visitor's computer 16 connected asa network client. The universe can model a real or tangible space, suchas the surface of the Earth, with the universe representing real ortangible locations in physical space. Alternatively, the universe canmodel an imaginary space, such as L. Frank Baum's Oz or a stick model ofa protein molecule, with the universe representing imaginary locationsin nonphysical space.

The network 10 is preferably a local, proprietary network (e.g., anintranet) and/or is alternatively a part of a larger wide-area network(e.g., the cloud). The network 10 can be a local area network (LAN),which is communicatively coupled to a wide area network (WAN) such asthe Internet. The Internet is a broad network of interconnectedcomputers and servers allowing for the transmission and exchange ofInternet Protocol (IP) data between users connected through a networkservice provider. Examples of network service providers are the publicswitched telephone network, a cable service provider, a provider ofdigital subscriber line (DSL) services, or a satellite service provide.

The visitor explores the universe by selecting and viewing virtualreality presentations of virtual locations or points 18 on the map 12.Each point 18 represents a location in the universe that has at leastone virtual reality representation available for a visitor to access andexperience. A point 18 can model a point, area or volume in the virtualuniverse and a visitor may be capable of moving about the area or volumeif the virtual reality presentation enables it.

The VR browser 14 retrieves the data for the virtual realityrepresentations from virtual reality data servers (VR data servers) 20.VR data servers 20 are connected to the browser 14 by networkconnections 22. The network connections 22 may be through a Local AreaNetwork (LAN) or a global network such as the Internet. VR data servers20 may include any type of server or other computing device as is knownin the art, including standard hardware computing components such asnetwork and media interfaces, non-transitory computer-readable storage(memory), and processors for executing instructions or accessinginformation that may be stored in memory. The functionalities ofmultiple servers may be integrated into a single server. Any of theaforementioned servers (or an integrated server) may take on certainclient-side, cache, or proxy server characteristics. Thesecharacteristics may depend on the particular network placement of theserver or certain configurations of the server. VR data servers 20 areconnected to the browser 14 by network connections 22. The networkconnections 22 may be through a Local Area Network (LAN) or a globalnetwork such as the Internet.

Each VR data server 20 provides access to VR data 24 for a virtualreality representation of the selected point 18. Data can be stored inconventional virtual reality file formats such as QUICKTIME, X3D, VRML,and the like, or can be stored as separate digital image files. VR data24 can be stored on the VR data server 20 or stored on additionalnetwork data servers (not shown) distributed through the network 10.

The entire network 10, including the network client 16 and the servers20 and 26, may also be hosted on a single computer if a distributednetwork is not required.

A point 18 may have a number of different virtual realityrepresentations served by a number of different VR data servers 20.These representations may be stored in different file formats, mayrepresent the point in different seasons of the year or in differenthistorical eras, or may provide an alternative or augmented visitorinterface or sensory experience. Of course, a particular data server 20could serve a number of virtual reality representations of a point 18 ordifferent points 18.

A domain server 26 hosts a universe database 30 for displaying the map12 and the points 18 on the map 12. The database 30 preferably includesgraphic files, image files, and other data for generating and displayingthe map 12. The universe database 30 may also include the networkaddresses or network paths to the VR files associated with the virtualreality representations.

The domain server 26 also maintains a network database 32 that storesinformation about each point 18 and the network addresses of the one ormore VR data servers 20 that provide access to VR representations of thepoint 18.

The network database 32 holds a number of virtual reality representationrecords (VRR records) 34.

Network Client 16 includes visitors browser program 17A, networkconnection 17B, computer processor model 17C and processor loadmeasurement 17D, Each of browser program 17A, network connection 17B,computer processor model 17C and processor load measurement 17D can bequeried to determine the visitors device type and the device'scapability for image quality.

FIG. 2 illustrates a typical VRR record 34. The VRR record 34 is a datastructure that provides information enabling the VR browser 14 to locatethe VR data server 20 providing access to a specific VR representation.A VRR record 34 includes the location of the point 18 and the networkaddress of the VR data server 20 associated with the VR representationof the point 18.

The VRR record 34 preferably also includes metadata providing additionalinformation about the point 18, the associated VR data server 20, andthe virtual reality representation of the point 18. Metadata can includethe author, VR file format, or a description of the VR representation.Other metadata can include digital rights management (DRM) information,initial orientation or direction of the default opening view of thevirtual reality representation, or the like. VR Record 34 additionallyincludes speed type, which is a representation of the range of speedsthe image can be shown at for good quality.

Each VR data server 20 maintains a local database 36 that records thelocation or locations of the VR data 24 accessed through the VR dataserver 20 (see FIG. 1). The local database 36 holds a virtual realityrecord (VR record) 38 for each representation accessed through the VRdata server 20.

FIG. 3 illustrates a typical VR record 38. The VR record 38 is a datastructure that includes the location of the point 18, the location ofthe VR data 24 for the representation of the point, and metadatacontaining further information about the VR data 24. For example, suchmetadata may include the author and digital rights management (DRM)information, VR data format, or descriptive information about the VRrepresentation. VR Record 34 also includes speed type, which is arepresentation of the range of speeds the image can be shown at for goodquality.

The universe database 30, the network database 32, or a local database36 can be realized as a single-file relational database, objectdatabase, or hierarchal XML database. Alternatively, a database 30, 32,36 can be realized as a number of separate data files, wherein each datarecord is stored in a respective data file. The data file can be instructured text file format, XML format, or other conventional dataformat. The selection of database schema and format is based onconventional software engineering considerations, including the networkarchitecture, the network load, and available software.

FIG. 4 illustrates a first visitor session wherein a visitor 39 exploresthe virtual universe point-by-point. For clarity only one visitor isshown connected to the network 10, but it should be understood that anumber of visitors can simultaneously explore the universe.

When the visitor 39 enters into the VR program through the VR browser 14of visitor's computer 16, visitors browser program 17A, networkconnection 17B, computer processor model 17C and processor loadmeasurement 17D of FIG. 1 is queried by the host system 26 and stored.

The VR browser 14 retrieves the map data 30 from the domain server 26and begins the visitor session by displaying the map 12 shown in FIG. 1.The map 12 displays the points 18, and the visitor interface of the VRbrowser 14 enables the visitor 39 to select which point 18 and therepresentation of the selected point 18 he or she would like toexperience. The VR representation data set shown was selected bymatching the visitors device computer 16, visitors browser program 17A,network connection 17B, computer processor model 17C and processor loadmeasurement 17D capability to the speed type of the VR Record 38, speedtype of FIG. 3.

It should be understood that the universe database 30 may include orenable generation of a number of different maps representing differentregions or sub-regions of the universe. The VR browser 14 maysimultaneously or sequentially display different maps during a visitorsession. For example, the visitor is initially presented with a “mastermap” or model of the entire universe. If the virtual universe issufficiently extensive, the visitor interface of the VR browser 14enables visitors to “drill down” and select more detailed maps or modelsof sub-regions (for example, maps representing a continent, a country, acity, and then a city block) to select a desired point 18.

Map 12 should therefore be understood to represent all possible maps theVR browser 14 may display as part of its visitor interface. Maps may berepresentations of one-dimensional, two-dimensional, three-dimensional,or n-dimensional space as is appropriate for the virtual universe suchmaps represent.

The map 12 may also display additional information that assists thevisitor in selecting a point or a VR representation of the point. Forexample, the map might indicate points of historical interest or thenumber and types of virtual reality representations available for eachpoint.

In the illustrated embodiment, the visitor selects a desired point 18 afrom the map 12 by clicking the mouse (see FIG. 1). The browser 14determines the location of the selected point 18 a on the map andrequests a list 40 of VRR records 34 associated with that point from thedomain server 26 (see FIG. 2).

The domain server 26 queries the network database 32 for the list of VRRrecords of points at or proximate to the selected point 18 a. The domainserver 26 returns the VRR list 40 to the VR browser 14. The VR browser14 generates a list of available VR representations from the VRR list40, and displays the list for the selected point 18 a.

The display list can include information from the metadata to assist thevisitor in selecting a VR representation to experience. For example, theVR browser 14 might display an icon for each representation indicatingsome characteristic of the representation (such as season of the year,its VR file format, or quality moderation value (discussed in furtherdetail below)).

The visitor selects from the display list the desired virtual realityrepresentation to experience. If there is only one representationassociated with the selected point, the steps of displaying andselecting from the list can be eliminated.

The VR browser 14 uses the VRR record 34 associated with the selectedrepresentation to look up the network address of the VR data server 20providing access to the virtual representation. The VR browser 14requests the VR record 38 for the selected representation from the VRdata server 20. The VR browser 14 uses the returned VR record 38 tofetch the VR data file 24 and initialize a virtual reality presentationthat will be perceived and experienced by the visitor 39. For example,the VR browser 14 could start one helper application to display aQUICKTIME presentation and another helper application to display a VRMLpresentation.

In the illustrated embodiment, the VR browser 14 displays the map 12 ina first window and the virtual reality presentation in a second window(discussed in greater detail later). In other embodiments, virtualreality presentations could be displayed independently of the VR browser14 through more specialized or augmented VR hardware, such as a headset.

Initially, upon entering into the VR browser 14, the visitors devicecomputer 16 capability is determined by server 26 by querying thevisitors device computer 16 of visitors browser program 17A, networkconnection 17B, computer processor model 17C and processor loadmeasurement 17D (of FIG. 1.) to calculate a speed type that will bematched later to the speed type of the VR Record 38, speed type of FIG.3. The speed data is sent as well as a request to “retrieve universedata”. Sever 26 send a query to dataset 30, to select the correct VRdata based upon the location as well as the correct speed type for bestmatch of quality of the visitors device. During the VR presentation, theVR browser 14 receives input from the visitor and communicates with theVR data server 20 to fetch the VR data 36. The visitor can change thepoint of view and move about the presentation as permitted by thevirtual reality representation being experienced. When the visitor endsthe VR presentation, the window displaying the VR presentation closes orgoes blank. The visitor 39 can then select a new point 18 or quit theapplication.

In addition to exploring selected points 18, the network 10 enables thevisitor 39 to explore paths through the universe. See, for example, path42 shown in FIG. 5. A path is defined as extending along a set of pointsor extending between start and end points in the universe. The network10 supports multiple types of paths as will be described in furtherdetail below.

A visitor sequentially experiences virtual reality presentations of thepoints 18 on the path. The VR browser 14 automatically moves fromdisplaying one VR presentation to the next in response to visitor inputindicating movement along the path. This provides the visitor with theperception of walking through or being “immersed” in the universe. Ifthe points 18 are sufficiently close together, the visitor willessentially perceive continuous or seamless movement through the virtualuniverse.

Path 42 represents a pre-defined path. A pre-defined path is definedprior to the visitor session and may, for example, represent a virtualriver, highway, or historical trail through the universe. Pre-definedpaths are preferably defined in the universe database 30 and representedon the map 12 for selection by the visitor 39.

FIG. 5 illustrates the VR browser 14 with a first display window 46 anda second display window 50. Display window 46 displays the map 12, thepath 42, and the points 18 along the path 42 as shown. The second window50 displays the virtual reality presentation of the active, or currentlyvisited, point 18 b.

When displaying a virtual reality presentation of a point 18, the VRbrowser 14 preferably displays an icon 48 indicating the active point18. The illustrated icon 48 is an arrow that also indicates theapproximate direction of the current line of view of the virtual realitypresentation shown in the second window 50. Icon 48 is shown indicatingthat point 18 b is the active point and that the direction of thecurrent line of view is west.

Navigation widgets 52 associated with the first window 46 enable thevisitor to move along the path 42 or to move to a different path (suchas a second path 54). Navigation widgets 56 associated with the secondwindow 50 enable the visitor to change the line of view of the VRpresentation in the second window 50. Widgets 52 and 56 can be combinedinto a single control if desired, and alternative known interfacecontrols (including the mouse) or other interface widgets may replace orbe used with the widgets 52, 56.

Also shown are various “quality paths”. Path 54 may be the path bestchosen for the VR representation data set selected as best match betweenthe speed type of the VR Record 38 (of FIG. 3) and the visitors devicecomputer 16, visitors browser program 17A, network connection 17B,computer processor model 17C and processor load measurement 17D (of FIG.1). However, path 11 a to point 11 b may be lower quality than thevisitor's device capability and path 13 a and point 13 b might be ofbetter quality than the visitor's device capability. In this way, thevisitor can optimize the journey they might want to take based on thecapabilities of their device and connection Optionally, the visitor canselect the quality level preferred, using speed type indicator 53. Byselecting a speed higher or lower than that which was selected as bestmatch to the visitor's device, the visitor may be able to optimize thejourney, initially moving through paths at low quality and stopping on apoint and enhancing the quality (that may be low speed data loading). Inthis way the visitor can improve the quality of the experience.

FIG. 6 illustrates a second visitor session in which the visitor movesalong and explores the path 42 (the database 36 and VR data 24 areomitted from the drawing). The VR browser 14 retrieves the map and pathdata from the universe database 30 and displays the map 12 as shown inFIG. 5.

The visitor selects the desired path 42, and the VR browser 14 obtainsthe VRR record list 40 for the points 18 on the path 42 from the domainserver 26. For simplicity, it is assumed that each point 18 on the path42 has only one virtual reality representation; so each VRR record 34 isassociated with a single point 18 on the path 42.

The VR browser 14 uses the VRR record 34 associated with the path'sstarting point 18 c to look up the network address of the appropriate VRdata server 20 and retrieves the VR record 38 from that server 20. TheVR record data is used to initialize and display the virtual realitypresentation of the first or starting point 18 c (see FIG. 5). Widgets56 control the line of view of the virtual reality presentation asdescribed.

Widgets 52 move the visitor to the next or second point on the path 42.The VR browser 14 uses the VRR record 34 associated with the next pointto retrieve VR data for the next point. If the points 18 along the path42 are sufficiently close, the transition from point to point appears tothe visitor as a continuous movement along the path.

In moving from the virtual reality representation of one point toanother, the VR browser 14 may also maintain (as closely as possible)the same line of view to maintain the appearance of continuous movement.For example, if the visitor is looking south and moves to the nextpoint, the initial line of view for the next point is also viewingsouth. In alternative embodiments, however, the VR browser 14 caninitialize each virtual reality presentation with a pre-determined ordefault line of view.

A second type of path preferably supported by the network 10 is aconnection path. A connection path is a dynamic path generated from anactive point 18 to adjacent points 18 during the visitor session. FIG.7a illustrates the map 12 displaying connection paths 58 extendingbetween an active point 18 d and adjacent points 18 e-18 i. Connectionpaths 58 connect two adjacent or neighboring points 18, enabling thevisitor to pick and choose his or her own route through the universe.

The connection paths 58 typically provide multiple routes betweenpoints. For example, the visitor can move from point 18 d to point 18 hdirectly, or can move first to point 18 g and then to point 18 h. FIG.7b illustrates the connection paths 59 when the visitor reaches point 18h. The paths 59 start from point 18 h and end at points 18 d, 18 g, and18 i.

The VRR record(s) 34 for each point 18 preferably includes a connectiondata set (see FIG. 2) that lists adjacent points 18. For example, theconnection data set for point 18 d (shown in FIG. 7a ) includes point's18 e-18 i and the direction to each point. This enables the VR browser14 to display the connection paths 58 available to the visitor; the VRbrowser 14 can also iteratively retrieve the VRR records of adjacentpoints to display a network of available paths on the map 12. Theconnection data set also allows the VR browser 14 to efficiently respondand display the next virtual reality presentation after receiving avisitor request to move in a given direction from active point 18 d.

The domain server 26 generates the connection data set when a new point18 is added to the network. The adjacent points 18 are retrieved fromthe universe database 30 to generate the connection data set for the newpoint 18.

The domain server 26 also modifies the connection data set of adjacentpoints 18 as illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9. The maps 12 in FIGS. 8 and 9are otherwise identical to the map 12 in FIG. 7a , but include alater-added point 18 j or 18 k, respectively. In FIG. 8, point 18 j isinserted between points 18 d and 18 h. Point 18 j is now adjacent topoint 18 d instead of point 18 h. The connection data set associatedwith point 18 d is modified to remove point 18 h and to insert point 18j for the connection path 58 extending between points 18 d and 18 j. InFIG. 9, point 18 k is an additional point adjacent to point 18 d.

Point 18 k is added to the data connection set associated with point 18d for the connection path 58 extending between points 18 d and 18 k.

A visitor can also preferably edit the connection data set for a point18 to add or subtract connection paths extending from the point. Thevisitor can add a remote point 18 to the data set, creating a connectionpath to that remote point. A point can be removed from the data set,eliminating a connection path. The modified data set can be stored onthe visitor's machine 16 for use only by the visitor's browser 14, orthe modifications can be saved in the network database 32 to be madeavailable to all visitors.

A third type of path supported by the network 10 is the event path. Anevent path is a dynamic path generated by the network in response to anevent or visitor query. For example, the visitor 39 may request the pathfrom his or her current location to another location in the universe.The VR browser 14 queries the universe database 30 and displays thepoints 18 along the path on the map 12.

FIG. 10 illustrates an event path 60 generated by an event. The domainserver 26 maintains a list of active visitors on the network 10 and thecurrent location of each visitor in the universe. The map 12 displaysthe positions of all the visitors 39 and the path to each visitor. Forclarity only two active visitors 39 a, 39 b and one path 60 between themare shown in FIG. 10. Paths 60 are automatically updated as visitorsmove about in the universe and as visitors join and leave the network.

A fourth type of path supported by the network is the visitor-definedpath. Path 54 (see FIG. 5) represents a visitor-defined path. Thevisitor defines the end points and the points 18 of the path 54. Thepath can be created, for example, by inputting a list of the points 18defining the path or by having the VR browser 14 maintain and store ahistory of the points 18 visited by the visitor in prior visits.

The definition of the visitor-defined path 54 may be stored on thevisitor's machine 16 for use only by the visitor 39. Alternatively, thepath definition is stored in the universe database 30 and made availableto all network visitors.

As described above, the domain server 26 provides a single point ofaccess for the VR browser 14 to initiate a visitor session and display amap of available points 18 in the universe. This enables new points 18to be added to the universe and new virtual reality representations ofnew or existing points 18 to be made available to all VR browsers 14 onthe network 10 by updating the domain server databases 30 and 32.

An author creating a virtual reality representation for a new orexisting point 18 stores the data on his or her own VR data server 20and then connects the VR data server to the network 10. The authorremotely invokes an administrative program on the domain server 26 thatadds the location to the universe database 30 and adds a new VRR record34 to the network database 32. The new VRR record 34 includes thelocation of the new point 18 and the network address of the associatedVR data server 20. The VR browser 14 automatically generates anup-to-date map 12 when it retrieves the map data from the universedatabase 30.

If desired, the client machine 16 can cache VR data 34 as well asrecords from the databases 30, 32, and 36 for improved performance. TheVR browser 14 uses the local data cache to display the map and toretrieve VR data from the network 10. However, the data cache should berefreshed regularly or at the visitor's command to prevent stale data.Alternatively, the database records can include a “Time to Live” fieldfor automatic updating of the data caches.

To facilitate creation of VR representations of points 18, the universeis preferably divided into a public region and a private region. Authorsare free to add virtual reality representations of any point in thepublic region. Only authorized authors can add virtual representationsof private regions.

To illustrate the concept of public and private regions in more concreteterms, the map 12 is a virtual representation of the Gettysburg NationalMilitary Park 62 and the adjacent borough of Gettysburg, Pa. 64. SeeFIG. 1; the borough of Gettysburg is represented schematically as acircular area. The Military Park 62 is a public region of the universeand the borough of Gettysburg 64 is a private region of the universe.

Tourists or Civil War buffs can author a virtual reality representationfor a new point 18 in the Military Park 62 or author an additionalvirtual reality representation for an existing point 18. The author canprovide visitor access to the representation through a publicly orprivately available VR data server 20. The author updates the domainserver databases 30, 32 through the administrative software aspreviously described and updates the local database 36 and stores the VRdata 24 on the data server 20. The new point and its representation arenow available to all visitors.

Over time, the number of points in the universe having virtual realityrepresentations increases and the number of representations for a givenpoint increases. This enables visitors to select points and viewpresentations that provide them with a rich and varied virtual visit tothe virtual Military Park 62.

To further encourage the creation and selection of high-quality virtualpresentations, each representation of a public point 18 is preferablyassigned a quality moderation value. A quality moderation valuerepresents the quality of the representation and assists visitors inselecting which representations to view. The quality moderation value ispreferably stored in the representation's VRR record 34 (see FIG. 2) andis displayed on the map 12.

For example, a representation can be assigned a quality moderation valuebetween 0 and 10, where 0 represents a low quality representation and 10represents a high quality representation. A visitor can rate the qualityof the representation after experiencing the virtual realitypresentation. A running average of visitors' ratings is stored as therepresentation's quality moderation value. This mechanism enables thenetwork 10 to be self-moderating in that representations whose qualityfalls below a minimum value can be automatically removed from thenetwork or not listed for selection.

Virtual reality representations of points within Gettysburg borough 64,however, are limited to authorized authors. Examples of such authors mayinclude owners of commercial establishments who wish to control thecontent of the virtual reality representation of their store orbusiness. A private representation may be hosted on a VR data server 20whose access is controlled by the author and may or may not be assigneda quality moderation value.

Virtual reality representations of public points are preferably createdin a simple, standardized format to encourage those without technical orcomputer expertise to contribute virtual reality representations to thenetwork 10.

FIG. 11 illustrates a preferred, simplified virtual reality format. Fourimages 66 are taken with a digital camera from a point, each photographhaving a line of view facing north, south, east, and west, respectively.The administrative program uploads the four image files and presents anon-line form requesting the location of the point and associatedmetadata. The administrative program stores the image files as VR data24 on a VR data server 20, updates the universe database 30, adds theappropriate VRR record to the network database 32, and adds theappropriate VR record to the local database 36. Because the illustratedpublic region 62 represents an area of the Earth, the latitude andlongitude of the corresponding physical location of an actual point onthe Earth's surface provides a convenient way of identifying thelocation of a point 18 on the map 12. The administrative programrequests the latitude and longitude of the point, which can be obtained,for example, by a GPS reading when the digital photographs are taken.

It is understood that other kinds of metadata, data fields, data keys,or data formats can be used for or stored in the databases 30, 32, and36 and that other VR data 24 can be stored in other file formats. Thedata can be distributed on other servers on the network 10. But the VRbrowser 14 preferably accesses the network 10 initially through thesingle domain server 26 regardless of how the data itself is distributedthroughout the network 10.

It is contemplated that embodiments of the virtual reality network 10will be customized for particular industries or visitors. For example, areal estate network would host virtual reality representations of housesavailable for sale. The seller's real estate agent takes photographs ofeach room in a house and uploads them to the real estate network, alongwith the floor plan and other metadata. A buyer's real estate agentselects the house to visit, and the VR browser displays the floor planand the paths through the house. The visitor moves along the paths inthe house, in effect taking a virtual reality tour through each room inthe house.

The present invention may be implemented in an application that may beoperable using a variety of devices. Non-transitory computer-readablestorage media refer to any medium or media that participate in providinginstructions to a central processing unit (CPU) for execution. Suchmedia can take many forms, including, but not limited to, non-volatileand volatile media such as optical or magnetic disks and dynamic memory,respectively. Common forms of non-transitory computer-readable mediainclude, for example, a floppy disk, a flexible disk, a hard disk,magnetic tape, any other magnetic medium, a CD-ROM disk, digital videodisk (DVD), any other optical medium, RAM, PROM, EPROM, a FLASHEPROM,and any other memory chip or cartridge.

Various forms of transmission media may be involved in carrying one ormore sequences of one or more instructions to a CPU for execution. A buscarries the data to system RAM, from which a CPU retrieves and executesthe instructions. The instructions received by system RAM can optionallybe stored on a fixed disk either before or after execution by a CPU.Various forms of storage may likewise be implemented as well as thenecessary network interfaces and network topologies to implement thesame.

While we have illustrated and described preferred embodiments of ourinvention, it is understood that this is capable of modification, and wetherefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth,but desire to avail ourselves of such changes and alterations as fallwithin the purview of the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for providing virtual reality (VR)representations in a virtual universe, the system comprising: memorythat stores a plurality of VR data sets, each VR data set defining a VRrepresentation of a location within the virtual universe and associatedwith a different set of client device operational characteristics; adomain server that receives a user-selected path from a client device,wherein the user selection is based on operational characteristics ofthe client device, and provides domain data associated with theuser-selected path to the client device, wherein the domain dataincludes a network address and corresponds to the operationalcharacteristics of the client device; and a VR data server correspondingto the network address, wherein the VR data server transmits the VR dataset associated with the user-selected path and the operationalcharacteristics to the client device, wherein the client device rendersthe user-selected path within the virtual universe using the transmittedVR data set without leaving the virtual universe.